Trek-Segafredo rider Grégory Rast has announced that the 2018 season will be his final season as a professional bike rider.

The 38 year-old Swiss rider started his professional career at the Post-Swiss team in 2001, after being a stagiaire at the end of the 2000 season. He went on to race for Phonak and Astana before joining Team RadioShack in 2010.

During his 17 year-long career, Rast competed in 10 Grand Tours and 51 Classics. Amongst his victories include two Swiss national titles in 2004 and 2006, a stage in the Tour de Suisse (2013) and winning the Skoda Tour de Luxembourg overall in 2007.

Grégory Rast:“I am happy the word is out and that everybody now knows that I will retire at the end of the season, but the season is not over yet, so I want to focus and enjoy racing for a couple of months more before I start to think about my last race. I want to give it my all for the team, and for myself, to finish my career at the highest level possible.”

Rast, who is currently racing with Trek-Segafredo at the Tour of Utah, will continue to stay in the team in an unspecified role.

Trek-Segafredo General Manager Luca Guercilena:“I am happy that we came to terms with Grégy really fast. He’s one of the backbones of the team, and over the past few years, we saw him develop into an excellent guide for the young riders. He shared his broad experience and knowledge with them without any reserves. That’s why we are happy to keep him on board. We are looking at different options now, but we have not yet defined in which function that will be.”

Grégory Rast:“It’s never easy to call it a day, but I feel relieved now that I have decided upon my future. After 17 years in the pro peloton, it will not be easy for sure to leave this all behind, that’s why I am so happy that I get the chance to stay with the team. I have been with this team since the very beginning, and I have been riding a Trek bike since 2008. We go way back, so when Luca offered me the opportunity to stay with the team, I didn’t have to think twice.”